Heart Waves (18 page)

“Oh please, call me Diane.” She extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I shook her hand hopeful she wouldn’t notice any trembling or sweaty palms. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Diane.”

“Come on in.” She closed the door behind us and led the way through the foyer into the kitchen.

A mouthwatering aroma hit me immediately. Roasted garlic and cooking beef permeated the air around us.  I thought at once of the old cartoons I’d seen on television every now and then, when a delicious scent from the kitchen would reach out and literally carry a character, nose first, to the food.

“Your brother didn’t come home with you?” Diane asked.

Reece chuckled. “He was too busy talking to a pretty girl.”

“It seems that’s the only thing he thinks of these days.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” Reece jumped to Aaron’s defense.

His mother gave him a look of warning.

“Mom, he’s sixteen. You’d need to worry if he weren’t thinking about girls.” He picked an apple out of the glass fruit bowl sitting on the granite counter and took a bite.

“Don’t ruin your appetite,” she scolded.

Aaron burst through the door leading in from the garage. He disappeared for a minute, and dropped his equipment in the laundry room. He popped back into the kitchen with as much energy as he had before the game.

“Who drove you home?” his mother asked.

“Anna.”

“She’s the blonde that was at your last game?” Aaron shook his head and smiled. “No. That’s Monica.” He reached in the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. “I met Anna at a party last week.” 

“Sounds like you’ve been busy,” Reece commented.

Aaron smirked. He looked from Reece to me before answering. “Let’s just say I’m talking to a few girls, keeping my options open.” He swooped around Reece and leaned against the counter. His eyes turned to me. “But, I’d give them up in a heartbeat for you.”

I laughed not taking him at all seriously. Reece pushed his brother and smirked when Aaron stumbled. I watched carefully enjoying the interaction more than I should.

“Cut it out!” Reece’s mother snapped. “We have a guest. Let’s try to make Jenna feel welcome.”

Aaron rolled his eyes but continued to converse with me. “She’s all uptight because you’re the first girl Reece brought home.” He continued rambling, the words just flowing out before anyone could stop him.
“Unless you count
Becca
.”

I glanced at Reece who seemed too stunned to speak.

Aaron continued on, “But technically you can’t, because she came to his dorm room while we were there. He got so upset. You should’ve
seem
him.
All red and embarrassed.
So it’s not like he wanted us to meet her.”

“Aaron!” Anger tinged Reece’s voice, his eyes burned as he glared at his brother. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Aaron didn’t respond at all. Instead he looked at his brother with a blank stare, uncertain of what he did wrong.

“Reece, why don’t you finish showing Jenna around,” his mother suggested, trying to ease the tension between her sons. “And Aaron, get out of your uniform.”

“Idiot,” Reece muttered under his breath. “Where’s Dad?” he asked.

“He should be home in a few minutes,” his mother replied.

“We’ll be in my room.” Reece motioned with his head for me to follow after him. “C’mon.”

We went back into the foyer and up the large semicircular stairs to the second floor. Everything about the house felt so grandiose and elegant.

Marble tile covered the floor from the front door through the foyer and kitchen, to the garage. The wood staircase and banister had been stained a dark mahogany. The railing and spindles looked intricately carved with fancy designs on the tops and bottoms of each.

I took in the foyer as we walked through. A beautiful armoire with open doors held exquisite crystal and statuesque treasures inside. A huge chandelier, several layers tiered hung illuminating the entranceway.

“I’m sorry about Aaron,” Reece said bringing my attention back to point.

I shook my head, “Please. He’s fine.”

“Don’t let him hear you,” he warned. “You’ll only encourage him.”

We reached the top of the stairway. A few feet to the left were two large mahogany double doors. I knew that must be the master suite. Reece took my hand and led me down the hall on the right.

At the end of the hall, past the guest room and Aaron’s room on the left side was Reece’s bedroom. I felt my pulse thrum wildly as he led me through the door. I looked around taking it all in as he closed the door behind us. Against the wall, across from the door, was his neatly made sleigh bed.

Crazy thoughts raced through my mind as I looked at the bed covered in a dark blue comforter.
Crazy, because never before did a piece of furniture trigger erotic images in my mind.
Crazy, because we were far from alone in the house and my mind went on a voyage as if no one else existed for miles around us.

I looked at Reece, feeling color fill my face, suddenly self-conscious and embarrassed. He had a curious look about him, his eyes serious,
his
mouth playful. I wondered if he knew what I’d been thinking, or if his imagination was running as wild as mine.

I turned to the long wall opposite the bed hoping to find something to distract me and keep my thoughts pure. I walked over to a large built in cabinet and shelves.
Again, dark mahogany the wood of choice.
  

The shelves were lined with books, trophies and medals.

I noticed an unusually thick book amongst the rest and read the spine. “Moby Dick. Did you read this?” I asked without taking my eyes off it.

I didn’t need to turn back to know he stood close. I felt the heat radiating off his body against my back. I tried with great effort to ignore his proximity.

“Not yet.” His voice was soft and velvety, his arms circled my waist. “But I’ve read everything else here.”

I read some of the titles aloud. “
Eragon
, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, all seven books.”

I felt him leaning against me. It unnerved me. I wondered how much longer I could go on ignoring his advances. He moved my hair from my neck and began to kiss me gently.

“So which is your favorite?” I asked trying to keep focused on anything but how good he was making me feel.

“You realize we’re alone in my room?” Reece whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

“Uh huh,” I barely answered.

“Then let’s forget about books.”

I picked up a baseball trophy and attempted to read the little plaque under it pretending he had no effect on me. Reece pulled it out of my hand and put it down on the cabinet.

I felt his tongue making tiny circles in the crook of my neck, his hands massaging my shoulders. I struggled to stay in control of my senses.
A futile attempt.
I inhaled deeply before turning to face him, at which point I lost all resolve.

Reece lifted me so that I sat on the dresser. He pressed himself against me, leaning between my knees. His hands ran up the length of my thighs. I held him tight afraid of what would come next.

I tried to keep my mind focused on the fact his mother and brother were downstairs and could walk through the door at any moment. But his kisses kept pushing those thoughts away. Instead I’d return to his mouth and hands and their exploration of my skin. 

His lips were hot against mine. Softly, deftly, they traced a path across the length of my jaw, down my neck, waking nerve cells I never knew I had. His hands scorched the skin on my stomach just under my top.

With every new sensation he helped me discover, a new surge of electricity coursed through my veins making me think I would spontaneously combust. I lost all restraint and reason. I allowed Reece to lift me off the dresser and carry me to the bed. My insides trembled with fear and delight as he gently lay me down and took his place next to me. He pulled back a moment, catching his breath, searching my eyes.

His eyes were smoldering, his face serious. I thought of him the previous night, shirtless under the moon and wanted to see more of him, all of him.

“Stop,” I put my hand against his chest and pushed half-heartedly away.

“We have to stop, Reece.”

He didn’t move.

“I thought you liked it,” he whispered, and went right back to the business of making me forget everything including my name.

I pressed my hand against him harder this time and shook my head, I didn’t like it. I loved it. “That’s the problem.”

He looked confused and crushed his mouth against mine, his hands getting lost again in my hair.

“Reece!”

“Okay, okay,” he moved away slowly and let out a long, loud breath. 

I sat up and put some distance between us. He didn’t move or say anything. He just lay there, breathing heavy.

“I’m sorry,” I said nervous to look at him. Afraid I’d upset him.

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to slow my breathing and along with it my racing pulse. We got caught up in the moment. And what a wonderful moment it had been. If he hadn’t paused for that instant I wouldn’t have stopped him. I would have let him lead me down any road he chose.

“Hey,” he moved next to me, his leg brushing against mine, his arm around my shoulder, “I get to be disappointed. But you have nothing to apologize for.” He kissed my forehead. “If anyone should be sorry it’s me.”

“Are you?”

His lips curled up, “Hell no.”

I knew we were fine.

The knock on the door startled me. I forgot the world existed outside Reece’s bedroom door. I forgot all about his family. I didn’t expect anyone to come looking for us, and hoped I didn’t wear guilt for what might have happened, what I wanted to happen, on my face.

“Come in,” Reece called.

The door creaked open. Aaron looked first to the bed expecting to find us there. He seemed confused and then disappointed to see us standing in front of the book shelves.

Aaron shook his head, “You’re showing off your baseball trophies?” he asked, disappointment coloring his tone.

“Don’t forget his medals and ribbons from swim team,” I goaded.

Aaron approached us. He definitely didn’t get the memo on personal space. He stood closer to me than his brother. “If you ever get tired of this dinosaur, don’t forget you have options.”

I laughed. Not out of cruelty, he just made everything seem light and fun. “Would one of those options be you?” I asked.

“Not one of the options.
The best option.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Because you’re my brother, I’m not going to kick your ass. But if I hear one more bone-headed comment tonight, all bets are off.”

Aaron held his hands up. “I’m only here to deliver a message. Mom wants you downstairs.
Now!”

I sucked in my breath, and looked to Reece horrified at the prospect of facing his mother again. This caused Aaron to look at me with greater scrutiny. I tried very hard to put on a poker face and hide my fear. His eyes darted from me to his brother. 

Aaron narrowed his eyes and shook his head with a smirk. “You had me going there.
Looking at trophies.”
He turned and headed out the door.
“Can’t believe I fell for it.”

I swallowed hard and looked to Reece for help. I did my best to communicate through my eyes or mental telepathy, anything that might work. I pleaded for him to find a way to get me out of the house without seeing his mother again.

As if he received my message and understood my trepidation he took my hand and led the way. Not far behind Aaron, Reece leaned over and whispered, “Nothing happened.”

“That didn’t feel like nothing,” I whispered back

He chuckled. “Don’t look so guilty. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

We didn’t do anything wrong. When you broke it down to its simplest form we kissed.
Passionately.
I could handle that. We were dating, and couples kissed. No big deal. Looking at the situation in that way eased the tension from my shoulders, from my clenched jaw and my overly paranoid imagination.

Reece’s father met us as we turned from the foyer into the kitchen. A broad smile crossed his lips. “This must be Jenna.”

I felt myself blush and I looked down to the floor for a second before pushing the fear aside and delving head first into the situation.

“Hi,” I extended my hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Walton.”

“I’ve heard so much about you.” Although his eyes were blue, I noticed a familiar twinkle in them. “Please, call me Howie.” His smile looked just as light and playful as Reece and Aaron’s.

“When did you get home?” Reece asked his father.

“About ten minutes ago. Hey Reece, I know it’s not your ideal situation, but we could really use some help at the firm . . .”